SPM Enlists St. Elizabeth Students to Champion Better Waste Disposal

SPM Waste Management Ltd. is looking to the reach of young people to help shift public habits and encourage cleaner waste practices in communities, with special focus on St. Elizabeth.

Sheldon Smith, the company’s Regional Manager, told JIS News that students are well placed to promote environmental care because what they do and believe can shape the behaviour of relatives and neighbours.

He made the comments during recent environmental outreach in St. Elizabeth. The activities ended at BB Coke High School in Junction, where SPM spoke with students about responsible garbage disposal and caring for the environment, in observance of National Solid Waste Management Week.

The outreach also took the team to Nain and Junction. It was part of a wider public education effort designed to encourage better solid-waste habits and deepen community pride.

Smith said young people must be included in environmental work because meaningful progress in waste handling depends on changes inside homes as well as across wider communities.

“Young people can influence a lot of things. They can influence their parents, and if you can capture the young minds for change, we’ll have a better Jamaica for tomorrow,” he said.

According to the Regional Manager, Junction was chosen for the campaign because the community is expanding and residents need continued reminders about disposing of waste properly.

He said the area has long shown a strong sense of civic duty, but in recent times it has been facing greater difficulties with waste management.

During the visit, SPM provided BB Coke High School with 16 plastic drums to help the school improve how waste is handled on its grounds.

Smith said half of the drums will be used for plastic collection, while the other eight will be set aside for regular garbage.

He said plastic drums were preferred because they last longer, are simpler for sanitation crews to move, and are less likely to be damaged than the metal bins normally used.